THE POWER OF INCLUSION

Mainstream society has always been cruel to people who don't form the majority. People with physical disabilities, in particular, are faced with an apathetic, uncaring environment that pushes them into a state of feeling redundant and unwanted. Despite the prejudice and lack of facilities, many individuals have proven that with a little help they have much to offer society.

Upashana Salam

Franklin D. Roosevelt. Jean Do. Sarah Bernhardt. What can the president of a country, an author of a best-selling novel and a popular stage actress have in common? Franklin Roosevelt was the only president of the United States to be…

Cover Story

A CITY FOR ALL

Amitava Kar

Imagine you are a on a wheel chair. Or you cannot see. What can you do with your life if you live in Dhaka or any Bangladeshi city for that matter? The short answer is: nothing. You seldom go outdoors—when…

Current Affairs

Prince is Back!

Shakhawat Liton

On May 26, the day the Anti-Corruption Commission was allowed by a Dhaka court to seek assistance from Interpol in arresting and bringing back BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman home to put him in the dock for money laundering, a…

Media

Voices to the Fringes

Zahir Hassan Nabil

When the cyclone Mahasen churned up coastal Bangladesh and several districts blacked out in mid-May, six community radios across the southern coast took great care in alerting people of the cyclone’s whereabouts. For five days, these radios went on air…

Perceptions

Painting the Country Red

Adnan R Amin

“Bangladesh is the second most racist country in the world”, screamed the map of global racism. So to the list of ‘disaster-prone’, ‘poor’, ‘corrupt’ and ‘fundamentalist’ – the world will now add ‘racist’ when describing Bangladesh. The map was colour-coded…

Food for Thought

On Cloud Nine – Part I

Farah Ghuznavi

I caught my breath as we drove along the road to the border. In the distance, the bluish hills tantalisingly hinted at a cool reprieve from the heat of the delta. But what had really caught my attention were the…

Economy

The Ticfa Math

REFAYET ULLAH MIRDHA

The equation of Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (Ticfa) deal is becoming complex by day. According to media reports, the government is going to sign Ticfa with the US to retain the GSP facility. But, later Commerce Minister GM…

Neighbour

Comatose Parliament

Indian Parliament Lacks the Basics for Democracy

The Indian Parliament has been adjourned sine die despite the fact that 100 Bills are pending. On the face of it, this appears to be a perversion of democracy. It may be quite the opposite though, because it may be…

Perspective

Behold a Pale Horse

Hasan Abdullah

The kind of onslaught Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry is facing, is perhaps best described by Shakespeare: “Mischief, thou art afoot. Take thou what course thou wilt”. Under the veneer of recent tragedies, concocted, arbitrary and imaginary allegations are circulated, some…

Reflections

The Fish of Hongdo

Andrew Eagle

It happened fast. Racing over the water, the small boat appeared suddenly, bashing against the minor waves as it crossed them, with the whirring of its motor growing louder as it unexpectedly closed in. The vessel I was on was…

Art

Creativity Inherited

Fayza Haq

All art lovers are well aware that Bengal Gallery began its journey with an exhibit of Ferdousy Priabhashini. On May 24 she decided to link arms with her son Karu Titas, to include his oil paintings. This served as a…

Musings

Of Departed Hair and Living Combs

Syed Badrul Ahsan

There are wondrous things we come across in life, thoughts that we sometimes need to share with others. Has it ever occurred to you that the comb is a most significant appendage to life, to people who value the hair…

Write to Mita

Dear Mita, I am 22 years old. I have been in a relationship with a guy for almost three years now. He is nice, decent, honest and basically everything that I like in a guy. But we broke up one…

Remembrance

Good-Bye, Rina Phupu

Kashfia NahreenBillah

Some time back I had a dream. It was an amazing dream. I was floating over beautiful land and water bodies. The scene below was extremely serene and peaceful. I felt completely relaxed and at bliss with no stress, no…

Periscope

So shall you Reap

AHMEDE HUSSAIN

In 1852, Karl Marx wrote an essay on the French coup that took place on December 2 the previous year.  Napoléon Bonaparte had just assumed dictatorial power, the national assembly was dissolved and the French Empire saw a rebirth.  Marx…

Star Diary

A Miracle

The whole country is proud of the rescue team that did an amazing job in rescuing survivors of the Rana Plaza collapse as well recovering the bodies of those who died in the collapse. Bangladesh doesn’t have sufficient modern equipment…

Chintito

The Changing Face of Bangladesh

Chintito

I was on my way to Sylhet. The gentleman sitting opposite my seat was quiet. Occasionally he lifted his head from his Tagore to take in the pastoral panorama speeding by. He sported short hair and was rather immaculately dressed…

Voicebox

“Those who failed to conduct an election during the last caretaker government after the 1/11 have no right to prescribe to us how to hold elections. Why should we listen to them? ” SHEIKH HASINA prime minister alleging civil societies…

Postscript

Speak Up, Don’t Mumble

AASHA MEHREEN AMIN

One of the things your mother will probably tell you at some point in your life is to “speak clearly” and not mumble. Unless of course she herself is the mumbling sort, though one should never admit such a thing…

YES WE CAN

Cartoon Strip

The Conspiracy

Sharier

Letters

What Are They Watching?

Children love watching television and movies, but too much of it during developmental years can have a significant negative impact on them. Children also play video games, watch movies and use computers much more than they did a few years…